I am officially declaring "maintenance" because I have weighed in at 109.5 for 3 days in a row now. I have no idea how I plan on maintaining yet, but I did do some calculating and I was seriously underestimating my calories, so no wonder why I continued to lose by dieting alone. I have to up the exercise so I can tone up, though. It's amazing how much my body has changed over the years. Eight years ago, I was about this same weight, but it was distributed differently. Now I seem to have expanded in my back area - my bra size used to be a 34 B eight years ago, when I got heavier it was 36C, and now that I am back to that 2003 weight, I am a 36B. Only exercise will help improve that situation. Anyway, I am happy to be at goal, but confused as to how to best stay here. I think it will take some experimenting and tweaking but I am pretty sure I will remain low carb forever. Not "no carb," but I will limit refined sugars and flours, all the higher glycemic foods, etc. We shall see!

Good luck, Lisa!

I have realllly got to get rid of these last 2 pounds to reach my real maintenance goal. Being stuck is kind of messing with my head right now. :(

Try not to let it get to you, but I totally know exactly how you feel. It's amazing how I was so more accepting of my weight when I was at my heaviest and now that I lost 17 pounds, I am more critical of myself than ever. It really does mess with your head.

I've officially decided to declare maintenance at 115 for the forseeable future. No more trying to get to a 2-lb. loss for no reason. I feel great, I definitely look slim, and I want to make all my goals this summer about fitness goals and achievements and clean, reasonable eating. I've been a little absent for a few weeks for two reasons: vacation and self-reflection. On my vacation, I really took stock of both my appearance and my attitudes, and I stopped dieting and exercising all together on purpose. I didn't weigh myself. I ate when hungry but in moderate amounts and tried to stick to healthy choices while also allowing myself some treats. I looked at the people around me carefully and tried to see myself through their eyes. When I got home, I resumed my workouts, picking back up right where I left off, and I resumed calorie counting but within a maintenance range that was higher than when actively trying to diet. I didn't weigh myself for a few days, but when I finally did, I expected that the occasional ice cream and wine on my trip would catch up with me.

Nope. 115. And it's been 115 on the nose every day since then.

For now, my body is easy to maintain at this state. I look a little on the thin side, but my statistics all count this as a healthy weight for my height and body composition. I do think I feel sturdier than I would if I went much lower, at least right now.

For fitness, I'm focusing on muscle strength increases, endurance increases with running, and flexibility increases with stretching. That's it. No weight loss.

I think this is a sane and sensible decision for me, and I want to continue it through August and then see where I'm at.